Веснянки
Chapter XVI
TheAngelsaidthatwashercaseexactly—sheneverhad,either;shewasnotallowedanythingstrongerthanmilk.Thentheylaughedtogether.
Shetoldthecookaboutcampingwithherfather,andexplainedthathemadehiscoffeethatway.Whenthesteambegantorisefromthebigboiler,shestuffedthespouttightlywithcleanmarshgrass,tokeepthearomain,placedtheboilerwhereitwouldonlysimmer,andexplainedwhy.TheinfluenceoftheAngel’svisitlingeredwiththecookthroughtheremainderofhislife,whilethemenprayedforherfrequentreturn.
Shewashavingahappytime,whenMcLeancamebackjubilant,fromhistriptothetree.HowjubilanthetoldonlytheAngel,forhehadbeenobligedtolosefaithinsometrustedmenoflate,andhadlearneddiscretionbywhathesuffered.Heplannedtobeginclearingoutaroadtothetreethatsameafternoon,andtosettwoguardseverynight,foritpromisedtobeararetreasure,sohewaseagertoseeitonthewaytothemills.
“Iamcomingtoseeitfelled,”criedtheAngel.“Ifeelasortofmotherlyinterestinthattree.”
McLeanwashighlyamused.HewouldhavestakedhislifeonthehonestyofeithertheAngelorFreckles;yettheirversionsofthefindingofthetreedifferedwidely.
“Tellme,Angel,”theBosssaidjestingly.“IthinkIhavearighttoknow.Whoreallydidlocatethattree?”
“Freckles,”sheansweredpromptlyandemphatically.
“Buthesaysquiteaspositivelythatitwasyou.Idon’tunderstand.”
TheAngel’slegallookflashedintoherface.Hereyesgrewtensewithearnestness.
